DISCLAIMER
The information and materials accessed through or made available for use on any of our Sites, including, any information about diseases, conditions, treatments, or medicines, are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and your participation on our Sites does not create a healthcare professional-patient relationship. You should consult a doctor or other qualified health care professional regarding any questions you have about your health or before making any decisions related to your health or wellness. Call your doctor or 911 immediately if you think you may have a medical emergency.compose your message
message sent
email sent successfully
Trusted Resources: Community Center
Online groups, photo galleries and blogs
Sickle Cell Disease in the Emergency Department: Confronting Barriers to Care
“You’re too pretty to have a disease,” declared the nurse in the emergency department (ED) dismissing Constance Benson’s reports of unbearable pain, a byproduct of her sickle cell disease (SCD). Constance, who is in her late twenties, is a professional actress and model living in Kennesaw, GA.
It wasn’t until Constance’s blood tests came back with information about her blood count that she was treated with the care and attention she deserved. “If I had a broken leg, it would be different. If I was having a heart attack, it would be different. But because I had sickle cell disease and I look like a normal person, my pain was dismissed.”
Constance’s experience in the ED is not uncommon among people with SCD, a condition that causes abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells that can block blood flow and limit the amount of oxygen getting to the body’s tissues and organs.
Related Content
-
education & researchDecreased hospital readmissions for vaso occlusive crisis with implementation of a Sickle Cell Pain Action Plan (SPA...Vaso occlusive crisis (VOC) is the most ...
-
education & researchEmergency Room 101 (tips for the empowered patient)Millions of people find themselves in a ...
-
Community CenterDon’t Be Shy About Asking to Remain in the HospitalOne of the best feelings in the world is...
-
videos & visualsSickle Cell Emergency Room Care: From Patients to Providershttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_conti...
-
news & eventsVitamin D Supplements May Reduce Pain-related Emergency Room Visits in Children With SCDTaking vitamin D supplements may lower t...
-
Community CenterOur Healthcare System Abandons Adult Sickle Cell PatientsWhen Janoi Burgess was a child, he thoug...
-
news & eventsSCDAA Teams with MedicAlert Foundation to Improve Emergency Outcomes During Sickle Cell Crises[Hanover, Md., June 26, 2023] – The Si...
send a message
To improve your experience on this site, we use cookies. This includes cookies essential for the basic functioning of our website, cookies for analytics purposes, and cookies enabling us to personalize site content. By clicking on 'Accept' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. You may adjust your browser's cookie settings to suit your preferences. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.